damn thing to Richard that he would hold against her. “Besides, once you go down that road, finding a job after is near to impossible.”
Evan shrugged. “Why do you think I keep my personal life personal?”
Grace huffed. She’d known for years that Evan was gay. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
“I know. It’s just easier to keep it separate.”
She pushed her chair closer to her desk. “I have a feeling he’d be more comfortable with your sexuality than my plumbing.”
He laughed, leaned forward. “Look on the bright side, the man will retire long before us.”
“If I can outlast him. I have to admit, I’ve done a few online searches.” Though there was no guarantee she’d be treated any better somewhere else.
“Can’t blame you.” Evan waved a hand in the air. “Hand over the Locke drawing. I’ll make a copy and look at your notes.”
Grace walked over to her files, pulled the shelf with Dameon’s plans, and found the ones Evan needed. “Thanks. I appreciate you stepping up.”
“No problem. You’ve been on the Sokolov crap without me. Far as I see it, I owe ya.”
She rolled the plans and handed them over. “You don’t owe me.”
“Debatable.” Evan headed for the door, hesitated. “Are you bringing a plus-one on Friday?”
“You know I haven’t dated in months.”
“Cryin’ shame. That dead guy is not an indicator that you’re not picky or smart about your dates.”
“Am I that transparent?” She thought she’d done a decent job of hiding her feelings.
“Educated guess. You’ve had lots of plus-ones and are always quick to point out their replacements. I haven’t seen that from you since . . .”
“I know. I’m just not ready.”
He winked. “Don’t give the dead guy any power, Grace. You’re too young to start collecting cats.”
That made her smile. “I don’t even have one, let alone a collection.”
Her phone rang, cutting off their discussion. “Bye, Evan.” She lifted the receiver. “Grace Hudson,” she said.
“Good morning, Grace.” Dameon’s voice was smooth silk.
“Good morning.”
Evan looked over his shoulder as he left the office.
She placed her hand over the receiver. “Shut the door.”
He walked out, and Grace turned back to her phone call.
“Am I interrupting something?” Dameon asked.
“No. It’s okay.”
“Good. Listen, I’m going to be in town tomorrow. I’d like to discuss some things.”
“I’m pretty busy tomorrow.”
“What about your lunch? Maybe you’ll let me buy.”
She lowered her voice as if the walls were listening. “Is this your way of taking me out when I keep saying no?”
He hesitated long enough to answer her question. “You have to eat.”
“I actually have a thing . . . tomorrow. At my lunchtime.”
“A thing?”
“It’s important.”
“I’ll drive you to your thing.”
“Dameon.”
“I’ll settle for your cell phone number.”
She shook her head. “You have my work cell.”
“Do you really want me calling that after work hours? I’m not sure if your phone is ever audited, but . . .”
The man was persistent.
“Fine.” She rattled off her number.
“It has never taken me so long to get a girl’s number.”
That made her grin. “I’m sure they throw them at you often.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
She pushed aside the meeting notes. “Unless there’s something pressing, I really need to get back to work.”
“I’ll be on the lookout for something pressing.”
“Why does that not surprise me?”
“Because you’re smart. Have a nice day, Grace.”
She was getting used to hearing her name from his lips.
“Goodbye, Dameon.”
She hung up and picked up the folder she’d been working on before the meeting with a smile.
When her personal cell buzzed on her desk with a text message, she knew who it was before looking.
Making sure this is you.
You’re incorrigible.
He sent a winking emoji.
Yeah . . . it was probably best that those types of text messages weren’t on the city phone. Richard would probably shit a pumpkin if he saw anything flirtatious.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dameon had three days to secure an invitation to the holiday party, leaving him few options. He watched Grace exit the office building at noon sharp.
“If you’re going to be accused of stalking, might as well do it.” He really felt like a perv.
Instead of climbing into a car, she headed toward a strip mall.
Following her would be a dead giveaway, so instead he drove the short distance and caught a glimpse of her entering one of the businesses. He parked his car and walked a little farther than where he had noticed Grace disappear into a storefront. As he moved closer, he slowed his pace. It was one of two doors.
The first one was some sort of check-cashing location. He glanced